UN's Ban urges Israel, Hamas "to avoid steps which would lead to a return to violence."

By REUTERS08/11/2014

Following the beginning of the cease-fire at midnight on Monday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a statement, urged both Israel and Hamas to "avoid any steps which would lead to a return to violence."

Ban expressed a "strong hope" the truce might lead to a "durable ceasefire for the benefit of all civilian populations and as a starting point to address the underlying grievances on both sides."